Law enforcement tout benefits of friendly competition

NORTH COUNTY —— Law enforcement officers and deputies who
participated in the recent Baker to Las Vegas Challenge Cup relay
are touting the race's effects on team-building for its runners and
support staff, even if they didn't all get top honors.

A San Diego Police Department men's team won the open division
—— the most competitive category —— and the overall top spot with a
finishing time of 13 hours and 18 minutes, said police Sgt. Joe
Ramos.

"We were the No. 1 team for the third year in a row," Ramos
said.

A California Highway Patrol Sacramento team came in second
overall and a FBI Los Angeles team came in third, he said.

San Diego police also had three other teams in other divisions
of the race, Ramos said.

The 21st annual 120-mile, 20-stage marathon, held April 23-24,
was the nation's largest law enforcement run. It has attracted
officers from Canada, London, Germany, and Australia in the past.
The race course starts in Baker and goes through the Mojave Desert
and over the Nevada mountains into Las Vegas.

All officers and deputies use their vacation time and pay their
own way for the event.

Several North County teams were among the 225 teams that
participated this year.

The Oceanside Police Department's team competed in the "300
division" for departments with 300 or fewer officers. It finished
in 16 hours and 40 minutes, placing 16th out of 24 teams in the
division, police Cpl. Steve Regalado said.

"It builds a lot of comradery," he said.

Officer Martin Morabe, who had repeatedly asked to run the first
leg, was finally given his opportunity this year, and he came
through 12 minutes under his projected time, Regalado said.

"This is a great event for Oceanside Police Department and all
its employees to support," said interim Oceanside Police Chief
Jerry Lance, who was there with his wife watching the team. "It not
only bonds the officers but also the behind-the-scenes people, the
support staff."

Carlsbad police Lt. Bill Rowland said his department's team
competes in the invitational mixed category, which includes
non-sworn police staff. Among the runners were a dispatcher and an
information technology specialist this year.

"This was our best performance ever," he said. "It's just one of
those ultimate team-building things."

The team finished 15th out of 29 with a time of 17 hours, 49
minutes and 22 seconds, Rowland said. That time included 10 penalty
minutes for switching runners mid-race, he said. Without the
penalties, the team might have won a glass mug, but Rowland said
that doesn't diminish their pride in this year's accomplishment and
that they will try for the mug next year.

An Escondido Police Department team placed 21 in the 300
division with a finishing time of 19 hours and 58 minutes, said
Detective Miguel Ramirez.

"We enjoy running … it was something to motivate us every year
to try and stay in shape," Ramirez said. "It's really a fun time.
It's a time that we spend together as a department."

The San Diego Sheriff's Department also competed in the race but
attempts to reach the team captain were unsuccessful.